I received this question from Many of my Readers and wrote the easiest way to Remove Shortcut Virus from any Pendrive or PC. Having some important files in your Pen drive and when you found those files turned into shortcuts, It will be really Shocking, I’ll write out the different possible solutions to remove these shortcut virus and hopefully one of them will work for you.
Remove Shortcut Virus from PC 2022
I have come up with 3 different solutions (updated 2018) to remove shortcut virus from pen drive, a Shortcut virus Remover tool (Checkpoint 3) and what if the problem is with your PC? You can find a solution at the end to recover your PC too.
What is A Shortcut Virus? (Skip this if you don’t want to know)
Shortcut virus is a virus which Enters into your Pen drive, PC, Hard Disk, Memory cards or mobile phone and changes your files into shortcuts with the original folder icons.
When you Plugin your Pen drive in Your friend’s Shortcut Virus affected PC or when you insert your Friends virus infected USB to your Computer, You may get this virus too. Be cautious before Pairing devices, I have seen this problem in PC having antivirus too. Below are the 4 best Methods to Delete this Shortcut Virus.
Methods to Remove Shortcut Virus from Pendrive:
- Use WinRAR.
- Remove Shortcut Virus using CMD (Command Prompt),
- Shortcut Virus Remover
Bonus Tip: Free Antivirus Software – Top 7 (Updated)
1. Use WinRAR to Getting Original Files
- Open WINRAR Application.
- Navigate to your Pen drive location or PC Folder location.
- Copy Files and Paste where you want.
- Format your Pen drive.
Try searching “WinRAR” in your Windows PC, If you can’t find the software, then download it from WinRAR (Trialware), WinRAR is a File Archive Software for Windows, you can use this software even to access files inside your Windows PC,
When you open a file using WinRAR no other process will run inside this, Virus being a process won’t get executed inside this software, hence you could find all your files when you open your Pendrive using WinRAR
2. Remove Shortcut virus using CMD
Here are the Steps to Remove the Shortcut virus using CMD, Using Command Prompt to remove a virus and recover files is the best way and there are more Possibilities for virus removal. This Method Removes Shortcut virus from Pen drive, Memory cards, PC, Hard disk, and even Mobiles. Just follow the steps given below
- Go to Start -> Run -> cmd.
- Go to your pen drive memory cards or mobile phone directory.
- Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d e:*.* (Where e is the Drive Label )
- And then press Enter.
There are chances for these two Errors,
The solution for Attrib is not a recognized command
The solution for Access denied for attrib command
Note: After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere
3. Shortcut Virus Remover
When Command prompt codes end up with no result, we can try Shortcut Virus Remover tool, Since Shortcut virus is just a process, one can easily find the process running on the PC, You can find and remove the process, or use the tool given below to remove the process.
you could find the “Wscript.vbs” file in Task Manager under process, and also here is a software to remove the file in seconds Shortcut virus remover
Remove Shortcut Virus in Your PC
When you successfully removed the Shortcut virus and when you re-inserted the Pendrive, again when you got to see those shortcut folders, then the problem is with your PC.
Now you can use Antivirus to remove the shortcut virus in your PC, Avast is one of the best Shortcut Virus Remover. Just Install Avast Antivirus and do a Boot Time Scan, following this will remove all the virus in boot Time.
Follow this Video to Remove Shortcut Virus Permanently
- Disable Autorun, So that Pendrive won’t runs automatically
- Scan for virus and then use the Pendrive,
- Don’t use Pendrive in Public PC’s
- Don’t use Harmful websites
- Keep your Antivirus up to date
Show your feedback in Comments below.
Thank q
Hi,
Very informative Post and really useful to Remove Shortcut Viruses…..!
Hi Thomas, I’ve been annoyed by the shortcut virus and I tried the methods you list, they all work well, thanks!
Thank you
thanku very much
good working this trick
Yes, this shortcut virus removal is working for the past 4 years without any trouble 🙂
Nice article. I appreciate your work.
thanks bro
Can I remove the Shortcut virus just by following these steps?
Yes you can, I heard back from more than 100 people saying Shortcut virus issue got resolved just by following these steps.
Whenever i transfer files from computer to pendrive automatically pendrive shortcut created in it. Please help me i have tried all the solutions
Don’t worry,
Try using the pendrive in some other PC, if you are getting files copied without issues then problem is with your PC, Just do Avast Scan. Hope this help you.
I did this, all the shortcuts disappear, as well as all my files. Could you please help me, what can I do know?
search your file name or go to folder option / view deselect hide protected operating …
Greetings!
Just wanna say Thank you so much for this blog.
It helped me a lot. 🙂
after i download avast what should i do
You are welcome Bro!
I can’t remove the virus, I tried 1000 ways, but when I open my drive over again, the virus is still here. Can you help me, please?
Okay kristina try this,
1. Open winrar
2. Goto your drive
3. Copy files to some other location
4. Format pendrive and restore the files.
This works for sure. Try and let me know.
thank you
Thank you,
Very useful…
You are welcome 🙂
While I interest a pen drive to a laptop all files are changes to shortcuts.. and also funny videos.exe . How to solve this problem?
Have You Tried the above given Steps?
AGAIN AND AGAIN SHORTCUT(VBS SCRIPT) CAME IN PENDRIVE.HOW REMOVE VIRUS SHORTCUT FROM PENDRIVE
Just scan your pendrive with updated Windows Defender that’s it.
Thanks Dude .. its really works … i was formatted my pendrive number of times to remove that blody virus bt i couldn’t .. by ur past i was tried and its works .. really thanks for this idea. ..
Thank you very muchh! I were at sea for a long time and finally I got rid of this shitty shortcut virus!
Thank you very much!!! I were at sea for a very long time and finally I’ve removed this shitty shortcut piece of sh*t virus!! 🙂
It comes again
it works thank you sir
thak you for your help. It’s handy.
THanks i can remove shortcut virus..
hello… where do i write the del.*lnk?
Very Nice
Thanks you very much it’s really helpfull.
it worked
Thank you, i cleared shortcuts too.
Thank you very much indeeeeeed
Thank you so much for the info..managed to get all the files back
Hello, I am using win8, When I open Removable drive, Just main folder and files are showing shortcut.
After that when I open it there is no showing any shortcut. (It’s mean sub folder and files are OK)
Kindly resolve above mentioned problem.
Restored.. Very useful
Thanks for the post
the yyncsiwkgz.vbs appeared with my actual file and the shortcut file. i formatted my drive and transferred my file to the drive again but the shortcut appeared again
on the last step after i press enter it just goes to the next line and nothing happens…help plzz
Gr8..! it restored everything 100%.. thnx man.
it worked
I have it throughout my computer how can I remove it…???
Do a boot time scan using Avast
sir im getting access denied error…so wt to do
it works thnks
Its not working…..My mobile again making those shortcut folders
Read the redlines in the post
thank you
I am happy this could solved my problem and the method works perfectly well. Thanks to all those who came out with this solution.
“Thanks for your nice post Solution for “Shortcut Virus” Problem of Your Pen Drive . I hope I will see this type of post again in your blog” .
Followed all instructions carefully but the files are now inaccessible, I only see the shortcuts but they can’t open.. Can I restore the links that I took out in the directories are in your first instruction. Thanks
FANTASTIC IT WORK
please help me,what was the order of command?
what was to be first and the other orders?please tell me that,,,,,please
please tell me the command order,that which is to be 1st and 2nd like that order please tell me
the shortcut virus is still there…every time i delete it, it comes back…
thnks that was fast!!
After running this i cant open pendrive even format. Access is denied. How it can be solved.
I have N8 with internal memory 16 GB.When i plugged in my pc then it got affected and when i use above solution shortcut removed but after one day files converts again into .lnk. Again i use CMD after one day same problem appear.PLEASE GIVE ME A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR REMOVING TOTALY .lnk From PC,pen drive, mmc,mobile plz plz give me 8875088344
thank you my dear friend 🙂 …. I managed to settle my problem …. the shortcut virus removed
it absolutely worked! thanks a bunch!
hi… i did as u told and it says access denied!! T___________T what should i do
first of all after open CMD, we must go to the pendrive…. type i: if your pendrive is drive i
after that type del *lnk or del *.lnk
then type attrib -h -r -s /s /d i:*.*
i think some of fail is because not type del *lnk or del *.lnk
http://hendra-bejo-online-store.blogspot.com/
work the 1st time thanks
hey when i type the command to enter my pendrive it says access denied.help me
thanks
use “smadav” antivirus. download it and scan via safe mode. all shorcut viruses will be removed. =)
Hello, thanks for this another good information against viruses, specifically, the shortcut virus. In my part, I did remove it through this cmd command “attrib d:*.* /d /s -h -r -s” … please take note, without quotes
If nothing works use this :
Shortcut Virus :
1.Must end process of WSCRIPT.EXE !!!
2.Open CMD: and type: attrib -h -r -s /s /d H:*.*
H( name of drive )
3.Then delete extra weird files
Thakyou so much it works (y)
hi
by following the above procedure i hav lost all my files too
they are quite a lot important for me
so please help me to recover them
Help. Cmd says File not found -E:*.*
Replace “E” with your pendrive directory letter, you see it in My computer …
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive. Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC…!
It comes again in a sec or 2. by CMD
hello i’m having the same problem! its just that my pc is infected with it because if i put a good pendrive as well! it turns into shortcuts.
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive…! Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC
don’ work shortcut genrate after deleting
Then follow the CMD
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive…! Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC
Hi Thomas, i am seeing shortcut to pendrive.. could you please suggest me how to recover my data from the pendrive…
Thanks in advance
Follow the steps given in the post 🙂
Hi Thomas, i am seeing shortcut to pendrive.. could you please suggest me how to recover my data from the pendrive…
Thanks in advance
Hi.I downloaded the application and using it to delete all the files in my pendrive. But just within few second all the files reappear. I scan my computer too but it stated no shortcut virus found.
What should I do? I followed your steps and insert command in cmd as well. Yet it doesn’t make any changes.
I can actually open all my files but all the files are still with the shortcut icon. And when i plug in other pendrives, they get infected as well. Need your help!! I really dont know what else can I do anymore to get rid of all those annoying shorcut virus.
Do a Boot Time Scan Using Avast Antivirus..!
Hi. Thanks for reply. I formatted my pendrive but the virus is still there. And i think i found the virus named ridqohmdna. No matter how many time i format my drive those virus still reappear.
Hi. Thanks for your reply. I formatted my pendrive but the virus are still there. And i think i found the virus named ridqohmdna. Any specific way to remove this virus?
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive. Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC…!
Hi. I downloaded the application and using it to delete all the files in my pendrive. But just within few seconds all the files reappear! I scan the whole computer but it stated no shortcut virus found.
I tried follow your steps and insert the command in cmd as well. but its doesnt make any changes.
What should I do?I can actually open my files now.but the files are still with shortcut icon and when other pendrive plug in,will get infected as well. Dont know what can I do now. Need your help!
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive…! Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC
Hi. Finally i get rid of that stupid shortcut virus. Just drop by here to say thanks to you! Thanks so much for the help! =)
great job. done
My netbook got infected but the application dosen’t worrk… everytime i insert a removable dsik it always gets infected what shoul i do?
I followed the same steps as for pendrive by typing the path of the folder which is actually on my desktop. all the shotcuts were deleted and I lost all files !!!
Hi
The commands worked perfectly well for my pendrive but how can I remove shortcuts from a folder on my desktop?
Replace the pendrive directory with your required folder directory
I did that one.My Pendrive shorcuts are removed.Thanks
Fake Procedure. This process in never gonna work
http://wbfun.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-remove-short-cut-virus.html
The only procedure that removes short cut virus is here:
http://wbfun.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-to-remove-short-cut-virus.html
Haha, Don’t Bluff…!
thx i saw the files gone hopefully it stays so if would check up on it during the day to make sure it really worked
I did the same steps. I get temporary fix, and minutes later the shortcuts reappear. I don’t know what to do next :/
That is the same thing that happens to my file. :/ Yeah! What to do? :(( 🙂
Your system may get infected, Download the application and scan your whole computer
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive…! Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC
This solved my problem…….But there is a typing mistake its not Del *.link…..Correct command is del *.lnk
Thanks 🙂 Fnshd Editing
Thank you very much, it does indeed work……continue blessing us with such a good work…..From Mokete (RSA)
Thank you……. Very useful This Code…….TNX……..
Hey Guy! you can using note pad by
type: attrib -h -s /d /s
save as: Show virus.bat
copy and open what ever u want!
u will see it!
Great one, really!
COOOOOOOOOLLL
I can not be entered usb directory
appears not to C: users but C: Documents and setting try can change but I can not
Are there opportunities to help me 🙂
I can’t understand your question 🙁
how can I remove the virus itself (.exe)
Follow the above commands
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive…! Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC
i did not worked in my pc again in one second it is forming shotcuts
Don’t copy the inected files again!
What if the problem persists after following the above commands? and what if I do not have WINRAR on my computer?
Try downloading WinRar
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive…! Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC
sir plz tel me abt del*.link… when i procsng this it wil shown could nt be found.. plz reply me
It is to delete all the link files, give correct command
when i typed the commend the message say that he don’t
find the path why ????
Give the correct location of your drive
haha, if the virus is already infecting the system, then it will appear again when you insert pendrive. Use avast or MSE and do a boot scan to remove the virus from the system
thanking u
urs truly
could u teach how to use winrar. i just know how to open the winrar and next?
i open with winrar but nothing happen
it show the message “access denied” plz help me
Followed the steps correctly? ( Drive letter )
not satisfied with the solution the shortcuts will be created each and every time i copy to my pen drive or memory card..
all commands are given correctly
Which means the poblem is with your files, Open those files in winrar, make a copy to some other place and then copy it to your empty drive
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive…! Only then your shorcut virus will get off from your PC
i did find much help with those commands….. i input them corectly for sure… can u give me some other solution..????
Open your drive using WINRAR
my pendrive don’t have any virus .. then when put it on my pc all file infected by shortcut virus .. why ? what should i do > thankz..
Your pendrive is affected by shortcut virus, which some times Antivirus can’t find and it’s easy to recover your files.. Just follow the above given commands
my virus on my flash drive needs to be removed, please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no i am not satisfied with this solution because shortcut virus is not removed from my pc and pendrive
Have you given the commands correctly?
sir help me i look likes same
Have you given your pendrive directory correcltly ( Drive letter, say E drive or F, G or something else in attrib command) ?
yes , i did , but for 1’s my files appear in folder and after that when i open it it again , there is only short cuts of the folder :/
Problem is with your files, Open those files in winrar, make a copy to some other place and then copy it to your empty drive
i have a solution if install window xp in just partition c then remove this shortcut virus and format the usb and pendrive then complete virus is finish
if you install window xp in just partition c then complete shortcut virus is finish from pc and after it format the usb
After when you got your files, just copy your files somewhere in your PC and format your drive and then copy again your files to the drive…!
After doing this , simply use malwarebyte Anti-Malware. Did the trick.
Great removed all those viruses
how to delete shortcut from the virus
Thanks, I Killed this shortcut virus 🙂
can you explain how did you remove this shortcut virus step by step from computer?
Thanks.
can you help me?
Go to tools -> Folder Options -> View (tab) -> Show Hidden Files and Folders
If there is an option to hide System files, uncheck that too.. And you are done
THANKS TO MY HELP IN SHORTCUT VIRUS DELET…..
Thanks for help me